St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-03
Lower. Higher. Below zero.
THE OUTGOING LEGISLATURE.

THE OUTGOING LEGISLATURE.
The legislature adjourns to-day and its
record is made up. The few intervening
hours until its final dissolution will scarcely
afford time for any material change in that
record. In certain sense it has been a
Woodworking legislatures; the members
have applied themselves diligently and have
remained faithfully at their posts. But its
labor has been akin to that of the mountain
when the mouse was born. There has been
a great deal of travail with insignificant re-
suits. 1t will be conspicuous in history,
not so much for what it did, as for what it
failed to do. A retrOspection of its work
exhibits some commemorate legislation.
There have been laws passed and laws
amended which will prove to be public
benefit. But they were generally measures
of a private nature or of but little public con-
sequence in comparison with other meas
ures which failed to receive favorable ac-
ton.
This legislature was elected as an essen
TALLY reform body, and yet of all the much
needed reforms which the people expected
and demanded, not one has been carried
into effect. The Republican platform upon
which this lie gislature was elected was filled
up with reform pledges, and not one of
them has been redeemed. The only Repub-
lican promise that was fulfilled by the Re-
publican legislature was the passage of a
high license bll-a measure which has not
a single element of reform in it.
On all the more important measures con-
corning issues that were uppermost in the
public mind the legislature has been faith
less, if not treacherouS. 1t was elected to
reform the abuses in the. management of
railways and grain elevators and ware
houses. 1t has not only failed to do what
it was elected to do, but has exhibited a
willing subServiency to the dictation of the
corporation bosses and the wheat rings.
Under the plea Of resenting the dictatorial
leadership of IGNATIUS DoNNELLY, it has
attempted to make that individual a scape
goat upon whom 1t could saddle all Its sins
of commission and omission. 1t was a
cowardly effort to evade responsibility fol
the betrayal Of public trust. Mr.. Don
NELLY may have his faults, and good
MANY of them, but his direlections do not
cAOH6idlc VIC icS 'Sidlule III PUBIC eSlltIld-
ton. When the public verdict comes to be
rendered the Judgment Of the people will be
that DoNNELLY was nearer right on ma
jority of questions that engaged the atten-
ton Of the legislature than were the men,
bers who attempt to hold him up between
themselves and the wrath of an indignant
constituency.
But whatever may have been the political
sins of the dying legislature, they were par
TALLY atoned for by its social perfection.
The members are an extraordinary set Of
agreeable gentlemen, whose social inter
mingling with the people of the capita
city has made pleasant episode in our city
life. For that reason we regret to see then
leave us, and upon taking their departure
the GLOBE speaks farewell tinged with
regret. Individually we wish each one Of
them safe return to his home, where the
blessings of domestic enjoyment await him.